Google and Meta have been under pressure in New Zealand from the country’s lawmakers. It makes sense, because it could be possible that Google and meta will soon be paying money to the country for news content.
New Zealand Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson has confirmed that the proposed law will work as a backstop in case the internet giants don’t reach deals with media outlets on their own.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Jackson said, “We’ve probably lost 50% of journalists in the last 10 years. We’ve got to give hope to the small players out there. I’m proud to bring forward legislation that supports them.”
“It’s not fair that Google and other big digital media platforms are able to post local news for free. It’s expensive to produce the news, and it only makes sense for them to pay,” he said, according to Stuff.”
The giant tech companies are currently in negotiations with several Kiwi publishers, and if this law passes, the new deal could generate an extra $30 million to $50 million for local journalism.
PM vows to promote freedom of expression and a free media.
Australia and Canada have already taken action against disinformation. Google and Facebook resisted the legislation in the beginning, but reached agreements with key media groups to update their policies.
In March 2018, then Facebook and Google officials met with Kris Faafoi, the Minister of Broadcasting. The social media company is now owned by Facebook.
He told Parliament he had confidence that the same discussions would take place in New Zealand. You can’t argue with him.